Shaw Kobayashi is chaired up the beach after becoming the 2014 NSSA college men’s shortboard champion and leading his Saddleback College surf team to victory at the NSSA National Interscholastic Championships, June 14-16 at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Photo: Courtesy NSSA

By Andrea Swayne

Five San Clemente-based surfers emerged as national champions at the National Scholastic Surfing Association Interscholastic Championship at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, June 14 through 16.

Shaw Kobayashi earned a national champion title in the college men’s shortboard division, leading his Saddleback College team to victory over second place San Diego State University.

Although San Clemente High School was unseated from their four-year run as national high school champions by Hawaii’s Kamehameha High School and claimed the runner-up spot, SCHS’ Andy Nieblas became the national high school longboard champ. Dana Hills High School came in sixth in team competition.

Shorecliffs Middle School successfully defended their title with their A and B teams earning first and second place finishes, respectively. Shorecliffs’ Nathan Carraba became the middle school boys shortboard champion and Gus Day the middle school longboard champion. Bernice Ayer Middle School’s Alexxa Elseewi took the title in girls shortboard. In team competition, Bernice Ayer landed in third place and Marco Forster Middle School in seventh.

Local middle schools turned in the most successful performances of the event with five of six boys shortboard podium spots being claimed by San Clemente students as well as three of six spots in both the longboard and girls shortboard divisions.

NSSA National Interscholastic College, June 14-16, High School and Middle School Championships, Dana Point, Salt Creek